What to do if you get sick in the United States

A guide for H-2A and H-2B workers: when to call 911, where to get care when it is not an emergency, the most common health risks in seasonal work, and what to bring when you see a doctor.

Updated October 9, 2026

First: is it an emergency?

Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have:

• Severe chest pain
• Trouble breathing
• Bleeding that will not stop
• Fainting, seizure or confusion
• Serious accident or injury
• Very hot skin or slurred speech after working in the heat (heat stroke)
• Trouble breathing after contact with a pesticide or chemical

If it is not an emergency

You have three options. Choose by how you feel and how fast you need care.

• A doctor by phone or video

  For common illnesses like flu, fever, an earache or a urinary tract infection. It is the fastest option and you don’t lose a work day. You need to be signed up for a service first.

• An urgent care clinic

  For small cuts, sprains or when you may need an X-ray. You usually don’t need an appointment. If you don’t have insurance, ask for the price before they see you.

• A community health center

  There are community health centers all over the country, and some focus on farmworkers. Many charge based on your income. Call first to ask if they can see you and how much you will pay.

Find a community health center (U.S. government site) (opens in a new tab)

The most common health risks in seasonal work

In seasonal work, heat, injuries and chemicals are the most common risks. Learn to spot the signs early.

Heat

Heat exhaustion: heavy sweating, dizziness, headache, nausea, cramps or weakness. Stop, tell someone and don’t stay alone. Rest in the shade, sip water, loosen your clothes and wet your face and neck with cold water. Get medical care if you throw up, feel worse, or don’t feel better within an hour. If there is confusion or fainting, it is heat stroke: call 911.

• Drink water often, even if you are not thirsty: a cup every 15 to 20 minutes.
• Rest in the shade when you can.
• Avoid alcohol and energy drinks.
• Take extra care during your first days of work: your body is not used to the heat yet.

Pesticides and chemicals

Signs: headache, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, watery or burning eyes, a lot of saliva or sweat, blurred vision or muscle twitching. If you were near pesticides, don’t assume it is just the heat. Get to fresh air, away from the area. Take off any clothes with the chemical on them and wash your skin and hair with lots of soap and water. If it got in your eyes, rinse them with clean running water for at least 15 minutes. Wash those clothes separately.

Respect the warning signs, and don’t go into a field that was just sprayed until they tell you it is safe.

Injuries and muscle pain

Back pain, sprains, cuts and falls are very common. When you lift, bend your knees and keep the load close to your body, and ask for help with heavy loads. Use the gloves and protection they give you. Wash small cuts with soap and water. If a cut is deep, dirty with soil or won’t stop bleeding, get medical care: you may need a tetanus shot.

Hurt at work? If it is serious, call 911 first. If the injury looks small, or after you call 911, tell your employer or your supervisor the same day.

Diabetes, high blood pressure and other conditions you already have

Heat and hard work can make them worse, and some medicines make heat affect you more. Don’t stop taking your medicines without talking to a doctor. Drink water and don’t skip meals. Before you run out, ask at a community health center or a clinic how to get more.

Skin and breathing

Wear a hat, long sleeves and sunscreen, a mask if they give you one, and change your socks if they get wet. If a rash or a cough doesn’t go away, get medical care. If a rash started after touching a chemical, call Poison Help. If your face swells or you have trouble breathing, call 911.

What to bring when you see a doctor

• A photo ID (for example, your passport)
• Your plan card, if you have one
• Your employer’s name and phone number
• The medicines you take and anything you are allergic to

If you need an interpreter, ask for one at the front desk. You can say: “I need a Spanish interpreter.”

Take care of your mental health too

Being far from home is hard. If you feel stress, sadness or anxiety, talking to someone helps.

Before it happens: be ready

• Save your plan’s phone number, or your doctor-by-phone number, in your phone.
• Ask your employer what health coverage they offer, if any.
• Know where the closest urgent care clinic and community health center are.

This guide is general information. It is not medical or legal advice. In an emergency, call 911.